The Sense of Touch

"The Sense of Touch" project: Living through war in Ukraine. In the midst of complex and uncertain times, we long for a sense of grounding—to feel familiar objects or to hold our loved ones close.

"The Sense of Touch" project: Living through war in Ukraine.

Since February 24, 2022, I have been documenting life in Ukraine during the war. I photograph people living in frontline cities and internally displaced families forced to flee their homes for safety. Everyone living through these difficult times develops their own strategy for coping. Yet, every person I have photographed shared that finding a sense of grounding or a point of reference is vital.

Many people shared that they feel safe when hugging loved ones, stroking their pets, or touching cherished belongings that remind them of home. At the same time, many try to process the reality of everything happening around them by touching the unusual objects that have appeared on the streets—such as the metal tracks of a destroyed tank.

I photographed the wives of fallen soldiers who still yearn to feel the warmth of their loved ones through touch. Some embrace a military uniform, while others get tattoos of their husband’s birth dates or words from his letters. In one of the photographs, a woman touches the words tattooed on her arm: "Together Always."

"The Sense of Touch" project is a search for the human element amidst inhumanity. It is about understanding the power of connection and nurturing hope for a brighter future.